The five-day long Odishi International-2016 kicked off on Tuesday at the Bhanja Kala Mandap here.
The event, billed as annual union of the global Odishi family in the land of Odishi, was inaugurated by Minati Mishra and Guru Ramhari Das by lighting the ceremonial lamp. Sujata Mahapatra, the disciple and daughter-in-law of legendary Guru Kelu Charan Mahapatra, made the evening special with her scintillating performance. The inaugural evening witnessed a packed auditorium.
This year nearly 300 junior and senior Odishi dancers and delegates from within the State, outside and even, from foreign countries, like Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Netherlands, Russia, Singapore, Switzerland, UK and USA are participating. This year the festival features noted dancers like Padma Shri Kum Kum Mohanty and Aruna Mohanty, apart from four Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Prativa Puraskar award winners leena Mohanty, Rahul Acharya, lingaraj Pradhan and Rajashree Praharaj.
With an aim to unite the exponentially growing global Odishi family in the land of Odissi, Samskritiki-a 27 year old cultural organization, started the festival. This year lifetime Achievement Award and Ambassodor of Odissi Award would be conferred on eminent Odissi Guru Durga Charan Ranbir and Russian Odissi dancer Vitalina lobach respectively.